179. Memorandum From Secretary of State Muskie to President Carter1
[Omitted here are items unrelated to East Africa.]
4. Uganda. Last week’s elections in Uganda have ended amid charges of wide-scale fraud by the government to ensure Milton Obote’s return to power.2 The opposition party has said it will appeal the results and boycott the government. We have some evidence from the opposition party to support the charges, but are awaiting a more detailed analysis from Embassy Kampala and the Commonwealth [Page 460] Observers before making a judgment. The election controversy raises the prospect of continuing instability in Uganda.
Regardless of our views on the election, Uganda has a new government—Obote was inaugurated today—and we will have to deal with it. We plan a correct, but cool, approach initially.3 Our Ambassador attended Obote’s inauguration and we have prepared a low-key congratulatory message from you which we plan to hold for at least another 24 hours. We will also seek opportunities to remind Obote and his opposition that Uganda needs political stability and unity if it is to get the international support needed to resolve its difficult economic and food supply problems. (C)
[Omitted here are items unrelated to East Africa.]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 24, Evening Reports (State) 12/80. Secret. Carter initialed “J” in the upper right corner.↩
- Former President Milton Obote was declared the victor in the December 10 election.↩
- Carter underlined the phrase “correct, but cool, approach” and wrote “ok” in the left margin.↩